ACA 7 Passes the California Legislature
We are excited to share that ACA 7 (Jackson), also known as the Closing the Student Opportunity and Achievement Gap Act, has officially passed the California Legislature and is set to appear on the 2028 ballot! Californians for Justice (CFJ) celebrates the passage of ACA 7, a legislative priority for us over the past two…
CFJ Youth Leader Camron Advocates for Long Beach
Growing up in the South Wrigley District in Long Beach, Californians For Justice Youth Leader Camron knew he wanted better for himself and his community. “It’s a place that I didn’t wanna stay,” said Camron. “It inspired me to try to do my best, even if my peers didn’t believe in me.” Though he initially…
Series of Wins: Securing Safety and Sanctuary in Schools
Series of Wins: Securing Safety and Sanctuary in Schools Year round and beyond election season, youth leaders are making noise. From Long Beach to the Bay, our organizing is rewriting what’s possible in education and in our communities when we fight back together. Because of youth leadership — and your continued support —we’ve scored wins…
End of 2025 Legislative Session: How Did We Fare?
The 2025-26 California State Budget has officially passed the legislature! On Sunday, Governor Newsom hit his deadline for signing – or vetoing – California bills, bringing the 2025-26 legislative cycle to a close. In this update, the CFJ Policy Team breaks down what that means for the racial justice & youth power bills on our…
California Budget Protects Schools, Not People: Communities Left Vulnerable Amid ICE Raids
The 2025-26 California State Budget has officially passed the legislature! We need bold, values-driven leadership in California, which has never been more urgent. We are living in the wake of recent ICE raids and the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines in Los Angeles, which have deeply unsettled immigrant children, students, and…
Youth Leader Highlight – Blog from our first Community Schools Student Liaison
I am Frida, an 11th grader at Anaheim High School and my school’s first Community Schools Liaison for the Associated Student Body (ASB). I consider myself to be a very active person on and off campus, as I dedicate my time to various leadership and advocacy positions. Currently, I am one of the Southern Coast…
Community of Transformative Practice – a Shining Light for Our Schools
As you know, CFJ is a lead organization in the State Transformational Assistance Center (S-TAC) for Community Schools. In this role, we co-lead a Community of Practice with the Regional Transformational Assistance Centers (R-TACs) across California to support the implementation of the Community Schools strategy. Our shared goal is to ensure that all schools across…
Special Post: A Story of Community Care & Healing
By Dom Garrett-Scott, CFJ Director of Community Research and Evaluation Trigger Warning: This piece contains discussions of mental health struggles, including depression and suicidal ideation, as well as detailed references to police violence, anti-Black state-sanctioned violence, and Black death. Please take care while reading, especially if these topics may be triggering for you. Reach out…
Key Ed Justice Issues to Watch This Fall
As we head deeper into the new school year it’s important to stay on top of the many issues impacting our public school students and families. To help you better navigate the shifting education justice landscape we’ve put together a roundup of some key issues to watch this fall. 1. Updates on State Policies Impacting…